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GUIDE 


TO 

WEALTH: 


OR THE 


PATHWAY 


TO 

ijealtl), peace, anfr (Competence. 

/ 


BY WESLEY SMEAD, ESQ., 

(BANKER .) 



WALNUT STREET. 


1856. 


HF 


F, Cj to 


Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1856, by 
E. Mendenhall, 

In the Clerk's office of the District Court for the South¬ 
ern District of Ohio. 


Bentley a Sons, Stereotypers. 






CONTENTS 


PART I. 

Means of Attaining Wealth. 


Page. 

. I. Introduction. 7 

II Formation of Habits. 10 

III Self Denial. 18 

IV Health and Tranquillity. 21 

V Honesty and Truth..... 27 

VI Industry. 33 

VII Perseverance. 40 

VIII Frugality. 47 

IX Method. 52 

X Punctuality. 55 

XI Politeness—Patience...58 

XII Advertising....*.63 














PART II. 


Causes of Failure. 

Page. 

Chapt. XIII Preliminary Remarks. 67 

“ XIV Counterfeits. 69 

“ XV Knowledge of Men. 72 

** XVI Extravagance. 75 

“ XVII Gaming—Intemperance — Idleness.... 79 

“ XVIII False Friends. 81 

*i XIX Errors of Judgment.83 

** XX Counsels and Cautions concerning Law¬ 

yers, Insurance, Banks, Agents, Ig¬ 
norance, Speculation, Partners, Bad 
Company. 91 

- o - 

PART III. 

Employment of Wealth, 

Page. 

Chapt. XXI Personal Uses of Money.. 101 

“ XXII Charities and Donations.. 104 














PART I. 


MEANS OF ATTAINING WEALTH. 

















































































































































CHAPTER I. 


INTRODUCTION. 

<( Know, all the good that individuals find. 

Or God and Nature mean to mere mankind. 
Reason’s whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, 
Lie in three words. Health, Peace, and 
Competence.”—Pope 

Fortune, they say, is a fickle dame—full 
of her freaks and caprices; who blindly dis¬ 
tributes her favors, without the slightest dis¬ 
crimination. So inconstant, so wavering 
is she represented, that her most zealous vo¬ 
taries can place no reliance on her promises. 
Disappointment, they tell us is the lot of nearly 
all who make offerings at her shrine. Now all 


8 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


this we take to be a vile slander upon the dear 
blind lady. We grant that her ladyship may 
be a little fastidious and somewhat peculiar in 
her taste. For mere apparel, however rich 
and elegant, a dashing exterior, however grace¬ 
ful and attractive make but little impression 
upon her. She despises idlers and spend¬ 
thrifts, abhors knaves and impostors. But 
however seemingly capricious she may be, we 
are firmly persuaded, that all who come, recom¬ 
mended to her favor, by honesty, prudence, in¬ 
dustry and frugality, may confidently hope to 
be rewarded with her smiles. 

Although wealth often appears the result of 
mere accident or a happy concurrence of favor¬ 
able circumstances, without any exertion of 
skill or foresight, yet we think that every man 
of sound judgment, unimpaired health, and en¬ 
ergy of character, may become the architect of 
his own fortune. Let us regard wealth as an 
effect flowing from natural causes. Now the 
clearly ascertained cause in theory, becomes 
the established rule in practice; and as ig- 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


9 


norance of the cause always defeats the effect, 
the first step in order to produce any given re¬ 
sult will be to ascertain its causes. What then, 
are the conditions necessary to the acquisition 
of wealth? A correct answer to this ques¬ 
tion, will constitute the art of acquiring wealth, 
which we now proceed to unfold. 


CHAPTER II. 


FORMATION OF HABITS. 

“How use doth breed a habit in a man.* 

Shakespeare. 

“All habits gather by unseen degrees. 

As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.” 

Dryden’s OvrD. 

From its intimate connection with our sub¬ 
ject, we will begin with some remarks on 
habit. It is a well known fact, that what¬ 
ever we do often, however difficult at first, be¬ 
comes more and more easy by practice. To¬ 
ward actions of either body, or‘mind, good or 
bad, we acquire by constant repetition, at first 
an inclination, and finally, an irresistable pro¬ 
pensity; so that what was in the beginning 
mere choice, grows in the end to an almost 
imperative necessity. The condition to which 
we are brought by this frequent repetition 


FORMATIOM OF HABITS. 11 

of single acts, constitutes that great, that all 
important law, termed habit. 

Fenelon defines habit “in general to be 
certain impressions, left in the mind, by means 
whereof, we find a greater ease, readiness, 
and inclination to do anything, formerly done, 
by having the idea ready at hand, to direct us 
how it was done before. Thus for example, 
we form a habit of sobriety by having always 
before us, the inconveniences of excess; the 
reflections whereof, being often repeated, ren¬ 
der the exercise of that virtue continually more 
and more easy.” 

Locke says that habits are “Trains of motions 
in the animal spirits, which once, set a going, 
continue in the same steps they have been 
used to, which by often treading, are worn 
into a smooth path, and the motion in it be¬ 
comes easy, and as it were natural.” 

Dr. Reid considers habits a “ part of our 
constitution, so that what we have been ac¬ 
customed to do, we acquire not only a facility, 
but a proneness to do on like occasions, so 


12 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


that it requires a particular effort to forbear 
it; but to do it, requires very often no will at 
all.” 

Paley calls man, “a bundle of habits*” 

Habit, in its nature and effects, resembles 
instinct, but the one is acquired, the other 
natural ; both operate without the exercise of 
either will or reflection. 

Habit often steals upon us with noiseless step, 
and unperceived, thread by thread, strengthens 
the cord that holds us, until ere we are aware, 
we find ourselves bound hand and foot, the 
passive and unresisting slaves to its tyrannical 
will. We may form habits of honesty, or knav¬ 
ery; truth, or falsehood; of industry, or idleness; 
frugality, or extravagance ; of patience, or im¬ 
patience; self-denial or self-indulgence; of kind¬ 
ness, cruelty, politeness, rudeness, prudence, 
perseverance, circumspection. In short there 
is not a virtue, nor a vice; not an act of body, 
nor of mind, to which we may not be chained 
down by this despotic power.—With an iron 
grasp it seizes its unresisting victim, hurling 


FORMATION OF HABITS. 


13 


him from the height of prosperity, into an 
abyss of ruin. It is man’s best friend or 
worst enemy; it can exalt him to the highest 
pinnacle of virtue, honor, and happiness, or sink 
him to the lowest depth of vice, shame and 
misery. 

We dwell on this topic because it forms the 
foundation of our subject. 

When we reflect that every single act, good 
or bad, adds one thread to this cord which 
binds us to weal or woe for life, we surely 
cannot be insensible to its importance. Solo¬ 
mon refers to this law, when he says:—“ Train 
up a child in the way he should go, and when 
he is old he will not depart from it.” The 
converse of this proposition is equally true; for 
train up a child in the way he should not 
go, and when he is old he will not depart from 
it. 

The love of freedom is natural to man.— 
And, that habit will change our nature and 
may become indeed a ‘ second nature , 5 is illus¬ 
trated by the story of the aged prisoner of the 


14 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


Bastile, who from long confinement preferred 
his dungeon’s gloom to the proffered light of 
liberty. 

“My very chains and I grew friends. 

So much along communion tends 
To make us what we are; even I 
Regain’d my freedom with a sigh.” 

Byron’s Prisoner of Cfiillon. 

To the man confirmed in a habit of truth, 
falsehood is almost impossible; to the habitu¬ 
ally industrious, idleness is irksome. Fix the 
habit of frugality; and a waste of property be- 
comes painful; let a man be settled in habits 
of honesty, and he will recoil at a breach of 
integrity. Man is made up of habits, and 
acts from them rather than from reflection; and 
when you know them you know him, and can 
safely predict how he will act under any given 
circumstances. Trust then to habits, rather 
than to promises. 

“The moderate drinker could abstain, if 
he would; the sot would, if he could.” He 
has become entangled in the web of habit, 


FORMATION OF HABITS. 


15 


“he curses it, and yet clings to it.” It has 
robbed him of his will and “triumphantly 
points to the precipice toward which it is 
hurrying him.” It is as natural for actions to 
flow through the channels of habit, as for 
the blood to course through the veins and 
arteries. “ Practice,” they say, makes per¬ 
fect.” Yes, and it can equally perfect a 
human being in either good, or evil. 

Some young men commencing the world 
with capital, credit and friends, fail in a few 
years, and others again, beginning penniless, 
yet become rich. Now, how are we to ac¬ 
count for this ? It is that the former lack 
the requisite business habits, whilst the latter 
are fully possessed of these valuable qualities. 

A father who sends his son out into the 
world with a stock of good habits, provides 
much better for him, than by furnishing him 
with a large capital without these habits. Let 
us therefore attentively consider the tendency of 
every act, carefully practising those which 


16 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


lead to the formation of good habits, on the one 
hand, while on the other we avoid those which 
are evil in their consequences. 

Vicious habits when opposed, offer the most 
vigorous resistance on the first attack. At 
each successive encounter this resistance grows 
fainter and fainter, until finally it ceases al¬ 
together and the victory is achieved. 

We cannot quit this subject without remark¬ 
ing that although all our active powers of body 
and mind are quickened and invigorated by 
exercise, yet mere passive impressions made 
upon our sensibilities become weaker and 
fainter by repetition. 

We all know how vicious company and 
evil example gradually tend to make people 
commit acts from which they once shrunk with 
abhorrence. 

How many are thus reduced to such a 
depth of misery and degradation, as to become 
themselves the very objects from which they 
once recoiled with feelings of horror. 


FORMATION OF HABITS. 

‘Vice is a monster of so frightful mien. 

As to be hated, needs but to be seen; 

Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face. 

We first endure, then pity, then embrace/' 

Pope 


17 


2 


CHAPTER III. 

SELF DENIAL. 

1 ‘Brave conquerors!—foT so you are, 

That war against your own affections, 

And the huge army of the world’s desires.” 

Shakespeare. 

We introduce self-denial as one of the 
most important habits man can form. It is 
that power which enables us to pursue with 
steadiness and perseverence, the path of duty 
however opposed to our inclinations. When 
firmly established, it will indeed prove the 
means by which every other good habit may 
be easily acquired, and every bad one avoided. 
It is the firm foundation, upon which our whole 
moral structure rests. Nothing affords man 
greater pleasure than a retrospect of the tri¬ 
umphs achieved by self-denial. It is the pa- 


SELF DENIAL. 


19 


rent of every virtue, and as a kind friend, 
conducts us safely to health, wealth, and hap¬ 
piness. 

We are apt to grasp at a present gratifica¬ 
tion although it may be followed by long, 
bitter and unavailing regrets. We are prone 
to sip the tempting sweets that float on the 
surface of pleasure’s cup; even on the hard 
condition of being compelled to swallow the 
whole of its bitter contents, dregs and all. 
Thus we not unfrequently purchase a momen¬ 
tary enjoyment at the expense of an age of 
suffering. 

On the other hand we are unwilling to sub¬ 
mit to the slightest present pain, inconvenience, 
or mortification for the sake of permanent fu¬ 
ture happiness. 

He who is incapable of self-denial, who 
cannot forego present pleasures, or endure 
present pains, for the sake of great future 
good, will never be of much value either to 
himself, or others. 


20 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


As we proceed, it will be seen that to acquire 
wealth in any regular employment, will de¬ 
mand the constant exercise, not only of self- 
denial, but of many other virtues. 


CHAPTER IV. 


HEALTH AND TRANQUILLITY. 

“ But health consists with temperance alone; 

And peace, Oh, Virtue! peace is all thy own.” 

Pope. 

* Know then this truth (enough for man to know,) 
Virtue alone is happiness below, 

Fixed to no spot is happiness sincere, 

’Tis no where to be found or everywhere.—lb. 

Good health is essential both to the ac¬ 
quisition and enjoyment of wealth. The 
most comprehensive rule for its preservation 
is, to be strictly temperate in all things. 
Next to the satisfaction arising from a sense 
of conscious rectitude, good health is undoubt¬ 
edly one of the greatest blessings allotted to 
mortals. 

There can be no real enjoyment without 
health; and yet how many recklessly sacrifice 
it to motives of gain, pride, or vanity; or in 


22 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


compliance with the dictates of senseless 
fashion. What folly! what madness! as if 
anything could be of the least value without 
health. 

Better a crust, a garret, a bed of straw, 
and tattered garments, with health; than all 
the luxury of princely grandeur without it. 

The preservation of health depends chiefly 
on wise regulations with regard to food, cloth¬ 
ing, air, exercise, repose, cleanliness and a 
proper control of our feelings, emotions, and 
passions. 

Food should be simple, nutritious, of easy 
digestion, well masticated, and free from sub¬ 
stances which promote unnatural heat. Let 
your dinner be your principal meal, with 
light breakfast and supper. Avoid active ex¬ 
ertions of both body and mind for a short 
time after eating. Let at least five hours in¬ 
tervene between each repast; and eat nothing 
between meals. 

The wise Socrates advises us to beware 
of such delicacies as tempt us to eat when 


HEALTH AND TRANQUILLITY. 


23 


we are not hungry, and drink when we are 
not thirsty. Another sage recommends that 
we rise from table with an appetite, if we 
wish to sit down with an appetite. Thomas 
Jefferson says that few men ever have cause 
to repent of having eaten too little. 

Thousands perish from excess of food, for 
one who dies for want of it, and more are 
destroyed by gluttony than by intemperance in 
drinking. 

A man having eaten almost to suffocation, 
is totally unfitted for any exertion, moral, phy¬ 
sical or intellectual, he can do nothing, but 
like the drunkard lie down and sleep off his 
surfeit. 

To the glutton no delight equals that of 
eating a good dinner. It constitutes his su¬ 
preme enjoyment. Fie does not eat to live, 
but lives to eat. His intemperance anni¬ 
hilates all his noble faculties, degrading him 
to a level with the brute creation. 

The body should neither be oppressed with 
heat, nor chilled with cold. Sudden changes 


24 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


and sitting in a current of air are hurtful. 
Clothing should be adapted to the season, 
and changed to correspond with changes in 
the weather. Garments should be loose, for 
pressure upon any part of the body is injuri¬ 
ous. Pure air is indispensable. Heated, 
crowded, and badly ventilated apartments are 
exceedingly pernicious.—Daily exercise in 
the open air must not be neglected. It should 
be sufficient to quicken the circulation of the 
blood, and give a ruddy glow of health to the 
cheek without causing fatigue. For all over¬ 
exertion is harmful. 

Study at night is injurious. We recom¬ 
mend early retiring, and early rising as con¬ 
ducive to health. That sleep which we en¬ 
joy before midnight, is said to be the most re¬ 
freshing. Sleeping apartments should be well 
ventilated and without fire. Regular bathing 
tends in a high degree to promote health. A 
towel and basin will be sufficient in the ab¬ 
sence of other means. It was remarked that 
the regular subscribers to the bath houses, in 


HEALTH AND TRANQUILLITY. 25 

Paris escaped the cholera. It is advisable to 
keep the head cool; feet warm and the bowels 
open. Many diseases may be removed in 
their commencement, by regimen and repose. 
And in case of sickness, Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, 
and Dr. Merryman will be found to be excel¬ 
lent physicians. Tranquillity of mind is like¬ 
wise all-important.—This may be secured so 
far as it depends on ourselves, by the rigid 
fulfilment of every duty, and great discretion 
in the choice of our social connection. We 
should arm ourselves with fortitude, to en¬ 
dure with patience the unmerited injuries and 
reproaches which we must suffer from our fel¬ 
low creatures. We should not allow our spirits 
to be depressed by the malignant revilings of 
the envious: for the best of men have not es¬ 
caped the reptile tongue of the calumniator. 
Nothing more completely unfits a man for the 
transaction of business, than an agitated mind. 
The greatest enemies of peace are anger, avarice, 
ambition, pride and envy. We should care- 


26 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


fully close the heart against the entrance ol 
these disturbers of our quiet.—Cares kill like 
poisons, and mental anguish has driven thou 
sands to self-destruction. 


CHAPTER V. 


HONESTY AND TRUTH. 

“An honest man’s the noblest work of God.” 

Pope. 

“ The man who pauses in his honesty. 

Wants little of a villain.”—M artyn. 

“ It is not in the power 
Of Painting or of Sculpture to express 
Aught so divine as the fair form of Truth! 

The creatures of their art may catch the eye 
But her sweet nature caDtivates the soul. 

Cumberland. 

Our successes will be in proportion to the 
number and strength of our good habits. And 
we will now proceed to consider such as 
are necessary to the accumulation of wealth. 

Foremost in the list of requisites, are hon¬ 
esty and strict integrity. That character 
which is not built on the solid foundation of 
integrity will soon tumble to ruin. Let a 


28 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


man have the reputation of being fair and up¬ 
right in his dealings, and he will inspire con¬ 
fidence in all who know him. Without these 
qualities every other merit will prove unavail¬ 
ing. We will suppose a person applies to you 
fora situation of trust. You inquire con¬ 
cerning him : “ Is he active and capable ?” 
“ Yes.” “ Industrious, temperate, and regular 
in his habits?” “O yes.” “ Is he honest, 
truthful? Is he trustworthy ?” “Why, as to 
that, I regret to say that he will sometimes 
deviate from the truth. He needs watching. 
He is a little tricky, and will not hesitate to 
take an undue advantage, if he thinks he can 
do it with impunity.” “ Then, I will have 
nothing to do with him,” will be the invari¬ 
able reply. Why, then, is honesty the best 
policy ?—Simply, because without it you will 
get a bad name and be universally shunned. 

The honest, fair-dealing man, not only re¬ 
tains the confidence and patronage of all who 
deal with him, but enlists their tongues in his 
favor; they zealously exert their influence in 


HONESTY AND TRUTH. 


29 


his behalf; they commend him to their friends; 
his business prospers; he is on the high road 
to fortune. On the other hand, all tongues 
are united against him whose course is marked 
by injustice; his dishonest gains perish; and 
shame and poverty close his career. 

“ For honesty hath many gains. 

And well the wise have known 
This will prosper to the end, 

And fill their house with gold 

The phosphorus of cheatery will fade. 

And all its profit perish. 

While honesty with growing light. 

Endureth with the moon. 

Yea, it would be wise in a world of thieves, 
Where cheating were a virtue, 

To dare the vice of honesty. 

If any would be rich.”—T upper. 


A character for knavery, will prove an al¬ 
most insurmountable obstacle to success in 
nearly every undertaking. It will be found 
that the straight line, in business as well as in 
geometry, is the shortest. In a word, it is 


30 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


almost impossible for a dishonest man to ac¬ 
quire wealth by a regular process of business 
Because people are afraid to deal with him. 
He is avoided as a depredator upon society. 

Needy men are apt to deviate from the rule 
of integrity under the plea that necessity knows 
no law. They might as well add that it 
knows no shame. The course is suicidal, and 
by destroying all confidence, ever keeps them 
immured in poverty, although they may pos¬ 
sess every other requisite for success in the 
world. 

A man may, by a train of unforeseen events, 
meet with heavy losses, and be consequently 
unable to pay his debts. In this condition 
his reputation for integrity is all important to 
him ; it is the capital upon which he must re¬ 
commence, and should at every sacrifice be 
preserved with the most jealous care. 

He may lose all; but if he has proved him¬ 
self superior to temptation, if it is seen that 
no considerations of interest can move him 
from the direct path of honor and justice, he 


HONESTY AND TRUTH. 


31 


will still retain the confidence of all, ana may 
soon be in a position to retrieve his losses. 

So necessary is honesty that even the most 
abandoned of the human race are often ob¬ 
liged to practice it from motives of policy. 

We remember a case in point. 

In the neighborhood of the city of Naples, 
there existed a band of robbers, who often 
kidnapped people, carrying them to their hid¬ 
ing places in the mountains, with the view of 
obtaining a large ransom for their release. 

A young man of wealthy connections was 
thus carried off, and four thousand dollars de¬ 
manded for his ransom. This demand being 
considered exorbitant, was refused.—His friends 
offered two thousand dollars, but this was not 
accepted. After considerable time, however, 
they sent the sum originally demanded, but to 
their surprise the money was sent back, with 
the intelligence that it had come too late. The 
youth had been destroyed. 

Now these outlaws saw that to retain the 
money without restoring their captive would 


32 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


tend to ruin their business. A little reflection 
ought to convince any man that he cannot do 
wrong without injuring himself, and that to do 
right is to benefit himself. So that were we 
to follow the dictates of enlightened self-love, 
that alone would include the practice of hon¬ 
esty, justice and truth. And finally when it 
is considered that fraudulent gains are not pro¬ 
fits, but losses, it does seem that he who can 
consent to barter his integrity, for present ad¬ 
vantages, gives strong evidence of ignorance 
and stupidity. 


CHAPTER VI. 

INDUSTRY 

“ I would not waste my spring of youth 
In idle daliance : I would plant rich seeds. 

To blossom in my manhood and bear frui 
When I am old.” 

Hillhouse. 

We are now to consider an indispensable 
principle in the business of money getting, 
namely;—industry—habitual diligence in the 
employment of both body and mind—persever¬ 
ing, indefatigable attention to business. 

Constant diligence is the philosopher’s stone, 
which turns everything to gold. Regular, 
habitual and systematic application must in 
time, if properly directed produce great re¬ 
sults. It must lead to wealth with the same 
certainty that poverty follows in the train of 

idleness and inattention. 

3 


34 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


The truth of the remark that “ he who follows 
his amusements instead of his business will in 
a short time have no business to follow,” has 
been fully confirmed by experience. As disap¬ 
pointment results from indolence and indiscre¬ 
tion, so success depends on industry and good 
conduct. 

Knowledge, combined with Industry, enter¬ 
prise and perseverance, rules the world; it 
overcomes every difficulty; it traverses oceans, 
explores deserts, levels hills, and fills valleys; 
it even arrests the vivid lightning in its course, 
subduing, taming, and controlling it at will. 

“ The wise and active conquer difficulties, 

By daring to attempt them; sloth and folly 
Shiver and shrink at sight of toil and hazard. 

And make the impossibility they fear.”— 

Rowe. 

With nations as with individuals, wisely 
directed industry leads to wealth and power. 
Contrast the wealth, strength and intelligence 
of England, France, Germany and our own 
happy country, with the poverty, ignorance 


INDUSTRY. 


35 


and weakness of Spain, Portugal and the South 
American Republics. 

Nothing worth having can be obtained with¬ 
out labor. Fortune grants every favor to 
well applied industry. If you want learning, 
wealth, or fame, you- must pay the price for 
it, and that price is toil. In this world nothing 
can be obtained without giving value received. 

“ Let us then be up and doing, 

With a heart for any fate ; 

Still achieving, still pursuing. 

Learn to labor and to wait.”— Longfellow. 

The Latin word for “business” is nego- 
tium, (neg, not; otium, ease ;) literally signi¬ 
fying a privation of ease. 

Now this self-denial, in which we sacrifice 
our ease for the sake of business, is a prime 
element of success; therefore be active, be di- 
ligent, be resolute; put your heart and soul 
in everything you undertake, and in your pro¬ 
gress, be always prepared, to avail yourself of 
whatever may turn up to your advantage. Sit 
not becalmed in indolence, waiting for favor- 


36 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


able winds to fill your sails but up and take your 
oars for God helps him who helps himself. 

On the eve of a naval conflict between the 
English and Portuguese, it was remarked that 
while the Portuguese sailors were on their 
knees earnestly invoking the saints to work a 
miracle in their favor, the British tars were 
actively employed in manning their guns, and 
preparing to work miracles for themselves. 


** Our remedies often in ourselves do lie, 

Which we ascribe to Heaven; the fated sky 
Gives us free scope ; only doth backward pull 
Our slow design, when we ourselves are dull. 

Shakespere. 


Energy, activity and skill, in the game of 
life, will be sure to win every f$yor that for¬ 
tune accords to mortals. 

Many a man in the Southern States is now 
the owner of the very plantation upon which he 
first entered, a poor and humble overseer. His 
energy, industry and frugality, have given him 
the wealth and position of his former idle 


INDUSTRY. 


37 


and extravagant employer, who is now reduced 
to poverty. 

So pernicious is idleness in its tendency, that 
most nations have deemed it necessary for the 
public good, to impose severe penalties upon 
idlers. 

Of so much importance did the ancient 
Egyptians consider industry to the well-being 
of society, that every man was required by law 
to declare, yearly, the means by which he ob¬ 
tained a living. Those who either failed to 
obey this law, or who did not give a satifac- 
tory account of themselves, were punishable 
w r ith death. The wise Solon was so much 
pleased with this law, that he introduced it 
into Greece. 

The policy and wisdom of this severe law 
against the drone of the human hive is evident 
from the fact, that he who has no honest means 
of subsistence, must either beg, cheat, or steal 
for a living. 

“If ye labor not, neither shall ye eat,” is a 


38 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


law that virtually makes idleness punishable 
with death. 

Idleness has, in all ages, among all nations, 
been denounced as the parent of vice, the nurse 
of sin, and the fruitful mother of misery, mis¬ 
chief, and crime. On the other hand, industry 
has always been held up as a great preservative 
of virtue, and a prolific source of health, peace, 
and plenty. 

Employment is necessary to the happiness 
of man. When the head and heart are fully 
occupied with business, there is no room for 
painful recollections, or gloomy anticipations. 

Brooding cares fly from the busy, to settle 
upon the idle. 

Even the rich, finding employment indis¬ 
pensable to health and happiness, engage in 
active and laborious amusements, as hunting, 
for example; and thus to escape the “irksome 
restlessness of rest,” exert themselves as labor¬ 
iously as a working man, who, earns his bread 
by the sweat of his brow. Thus while the 


INDUSTRY. 


39 


poor labor for bread, the rich are compelled to 
labor for an appetite. 

In a word, occupation is a law of our nature, 
and among the lightest penalties for its viola¬ 
tion, are not only weary days and restless 
nights, but poverty; ignorance and contempt. 


CHAPTER VII, 


PERSEVERANCE. 

See first that the design is wise and just. 

That ascertained, pursue it resolutely; 

Do not for one repulse forego the purpose 
That you resolve to effect.”— Shakespeare. 

“ There’s no impossibility to him 
Who stands prepared to conque* every hazard; 
The fearful are the failing.” 

Perseverance is the continued and unin¬ 
terrupted pursuit of whatever we undertake. 
He who has acquired this valuable habit, 
is never discouraged at difficulties. Having 
formed his plan, and by mature deliberation 
satisfied himself, that it is feasible, he proceeds 
with steadiness and resolution to execute it. 
Endowed with this stability of purpose, he 
conquers all opposition, never despairs at diffi¬ 
culties, and in spite of adverse gales moves 


PERSEVERANCE. 


41 


speedily on, to the consummation of his design. 
By the irresistible power of his indomitable 
will, he effects what, to ordinary minds, wears 
the appearance of impossibility. It was this 
power that enabled Hannibal to scale the stormy 
Alps; Columbus to discover a new world; 
Napoleon to overrun all Europe ; and finally 
it was this power that enabled our fathers in 
the revolution which gave birth to our inde¬ 
pendence, successfully to oppose the most 
powerful nation on the face of the earth. 

A strong and continued desire for the attain¬ 
ment of some end, as knowledge, power or 
wealth, is the main spring from which perse¬ 
verance derives its action. When united with 
energy and intelligence, it constitutes a prime 
element of greatness, and has given rise to 
achievements that have astonished the world. 

This almost omnipotent perseverance it was, 
that enabled Xenophon, left in the very heart 
of the Persian empire, surrounded by millions 
of enemies, to lead his ten thousand Greeks, 
through every obstacle in safety to their homes. 


42 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


And when Frederick the Great was assailed 
by the united power of Russia, Austria, Franee 
Saxony, Sweden, and the German states, con¬ 
stituting a superiority of more than twenty to 
one against him, in population, territory and 
resources; it was this all-conquering persever¬ 
ance which enabled him after a seven years 
struggle, to triumph over all his enemies, and 
bring the war to an issue without the loss of 
an inch of territory, and without encumbering 
his kingdom with a single dollar of national 
debt. 

Look, too, at the wonderful results of pa¬ 
tient perseverance in the paths of science. It 
was not until after twenty-two years of con¬ 
stant investigation, that Kepler was enabled to 
announce his wonderful discoveries in astron¬ 
omy. And while this great man was tracing 
the paths of the Heavenly bodies, and ascer¬ 
taining the laws of their motions, Lord Bacon, 
the father of experimental philosophy, was 
employed, with equal diligence, in ascertain¬ 
ing and pointing out the true path of scientific 


PERSEVERANCE. 


43 


investigation. Locke’s exhibition of the laws 
of mind, and Newton’s development of the 
laws of matter, are also signal results of per¬ 
severance. 

Perseverance, even w T hen unsuccessful in at¬ 
taining its objects, is not unfruitful of good. 
For it disciplines the faculties, quickens and 
invigorates the mind, and often leads to the dis¬ 
covery of valuable, though unexpected truths. 
The unavailing efforts of the alchemists to 
make gold, have built up the important science 
of chemistry. Astrologers in their constant 
observation of the Heavenly bodies, with the 
vain hope of thereby penetrating the veil of 
the future, have vastly enlarged the boundaries 
of astronomy. The endeavors to square the 
circle, have extended the science of geometry. 
And how many useful facts have been added 
to the science of mechanics, by the visionary 
search after perpetual motion. 

It is related of Timour the Tartar, that while 
he lay concealed in a dilapidated building in 
order to elude the pursuit of his enemies, he 


44 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


was inspired with fresh courage, by observing 
an ant, endeavoring to climb a wall, with a 
burden of double its own bulk. Sixty-nine 
times did this persevering little insect fail in 
its attempts; but on the seventieth trial he suc¬ 
ceeded in bearing his prize safely to its destin¬ 
ation. 

It is said of a young Englishman, who had 
exhausted his patrimony in a riotous course of 
folly and extravagance, that in a fit of despair, 
when on the point of throwing himself head¬ 
long fiom a precipice, he suddenly changed 
his resolution, and determined, by persevering 
industry, to recover his lost fortune. His first 
gain was a shilling, for throwing coal into a 
cellar. So effectually did he continue to act 
on this resolution, that at last, by untiring ex¬ 
ertion he gained a fortune of three hundred 
thousand dollars. (And regained possession of 
his family estate.) 

The difference in different men is illustrated 
by the fact, that while many a blind man begs 
his bread from door to door, a blind bookseller 


PERSEVERANCE. 


45 


of Cincinnati, Frederick Bly, commencing in 
1840 without a cent, has by perseverance, 
succeeded, within thirteen years, in accumula¬ 
ting a handsome competency. What a lesson 
is the success of this sightless, man, to those 
who have the full use of all their senses! 

Burgh speaks of a shopkeeper, who, in 
commencing business, opened and shut his shop 
during several weeks without taking in two 
cents; yet by continued diligence and attention, 
he succeeded at last in making a fortune. How 
encouraging is this example to the disheartened! 

We often see men, continually changing 
their avocation, in hopes of hitting on what 
they consider a money-making employment, 
and who conclude that a business is money 
making, because money has been acquired at 
it. They do not seem to understand that it is 
the man, and not the business, that makes the 
money. Energy and talent will succeed at 
anything; indolence and incapacity at nothing. 

Be the first at your business in the morning, 
the last to quit at night. Keep your object 


46 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


steadily in view, and let your motto be, “on¬ 
ward !” 


“The proudest motto for the young ! 

Write it in lines of gold 
Upon the heart, and in the mind 
The stirring words untold ; 

And in misfortune’s dreary hour, 

Or fortune’s prosperous gale, 

’Twill have a "holy, cheering power— 
‘There’s no such word as fail!’” 

Alice G. Lee. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


FRUGALITY. 

“The world has never learned the riches of Frugality.” 

Cicero. 

We will next consider the important subject 
of frugality, which consists in carefully avoid¬ 
ing all useless expenditure, and so directing 
the application of money or other property, 
as to make it productive of the greatest amount 
of good. 

It is opposed to a profuse lavish and waste¬ 
ful use of property and is a confirmed enemy 
to extravagance and prodigality. It carefully 
adapts expenses to means. 

What is frugality in the rich, may be extra¬ 
vagance in the poor; and on the contrary 
what is mere frugality in the poor, may be 
parsimony in the rich. Frugality is not in¬ 
compatible with charity; for though sparing to 


48 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


self, it may be liberal to others, but parsimony 
denies both self and others. 

We quote the following beautiful passage 
from Dr. Hawkesworth. 

“ Economy is the parent of integrity, of 
liberty, and of ease; and the beauteous sister 
of temperance, cheerfulness and health; and 
profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that 
gradually involves her followers, independence 
and debts; that is, fetters them with ‘irons 
that enter their souls. 5 55 

In Freedley’s “Practical Treatise on Busi¬ 
ness,” a work worth five times its cost, and, 
which should be in the hands of every business 
man, may be found a table, showing the accu¬ 
mulation of money at compound interest; from 
which we learn, that he who can lay up eleven 
cents a day, may in fifty years be worth eleven 
thousand six hundred dollars; and that a dollar 
a day in the same period, amounts to over one 
hundred thousand dollars. Nothing can more 
forcibly illustrate the grand result of small 
savings. 


FRUGALITY. 


49 


Beware then of little expenses, for saving is 
the “bee line 55 road to wealth; there is no 
alchemy equal to it. The first effort to save 
is the most difficult; only begin and it will 
soon become easy. Forget not that the lof¬ 
tiest structures were raised stone by stone. 

A young Scotchman who had succeeded his 
father in business, soon became bankrupt. 
The young man’s mother, on being asked the 
cause of his failure, replied. Well, you see, I 
and my man commenced the world poor, in a 
little shop; and you must know that we had 
oat-meal for breakfast, and oat-meal for dinner 
and oat-meal for supper. Well, after a while, 
we ventured on a wee bit of meat now and then, 
and so we kept on little by little, until we got 
rich; and then we had chickens and turkeys 
and other nice things for dinner. And now 
you must know the reason that our son John 
broke, was, that he began with the chickens 
and turkeys instead of the oat-meal. 

From this it appears that the art of money 

saving, is a most important branch of money 
4 


50 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


getting. It is estimated that in Providence, 
a city containing forty thousand inhabitants, 
one half of the property is owned by one hun¬ 
dred and seventy-five individuals, who have 
gained their wealth by means of industry and 
economy. Indeed as the greater part of the 
poverty we meet with grows out of idleness and 
extravagance, so most large fortunes have been 
the result of habitual diligence and frugality. 

The practice of economy is as necessary in 
the expenditure of time, as of money. It is 
said that 44 if we take care of the pence the 
pounds will take care of themselves;” so if 
we take care of the minutes, the hours will 
take care of themselves. 

The acquisition of wealth demands as much 
self-denial; and as many sacrifices of present 
gratification, as the practice of virtue itself. 
Vice and poverty proceed, in some degree, 
from the same source, namely,—the disposition 
to sacrifice the future to the present; the in¬ 
ability to forego a small present pleasure, for 
great future advantages. Men fail of fortune 


FRUGALITY. 


61 


in this world as they fail of happiness in the 
world to come ; simply because theyare unwill¬ 
ing to deny themselves momentary enjoyments, 
for the sake of lasting future happiness. 


CHAPTER IX. 

METHOD. 

“ Order is Heaven’s first law.” Pope. 

t( Order, thou eye of action! wanting thee. 
Wisdom works hoodwink’d in perplexity.” 

Aaron hill. 


Method, in whatever we undertake, is all 
important. It consists in a regular, suitable 
and convenient arrangement of things. It 
greatly facilitates every practical operation 
and gives ease and expedition to all our trans¬ 
actions. It prevents confusion, saves time, and 
promotes success in business. With it, all is 
harmony; without it, all discord. It enables a 
man to find what he seeks, even in the dark. 
Its influence in expediting our affairs is truly 
wonderful; and by economizing time, which is 
money, it likewise promotes wealth. 


52 


METHOD. 


53 


The confusion, arising from disorder in a 
man’s affairs, will defeat all his plans, and 
perplex and entangle whatever he undertakes. 
Without method, all is hurry without expedi¬ 
tion, bustle without business. For want of 
system, plan, and arrangement, everything is in¬ 
volved in a labyrinth of confusion, which puz¬ 
zles, distracts, and bewilders the understanding. 

The unmethodical man throws everything, 
however different, into the same heap; or, if he 
attempts to classify, mixes unlike and separates 
like things. He has neither a time nor a place, 
a beginning nor end, for anything, and though 
otherwise well qualified to succeed, he often 
remains poor all his days. 

To illustrate, let us consider the difference 
between a quantity of type properly arranged, 
and the same type thrown into a confused 
heap. In the one case, each letter being in its 
appropriate place, the printer can set up a 
hundred at least every minute, whereas in set¬ 
ting them from the heap, he might be obliged 
to pick up a hundred, and examine the face of 


54 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


each, before finding the right one. Thus we 
see, in this instance, how a hundred times as 
much can be accomplished with method as 
could be effected without it. 

It also enables a handful of troops to prevail 
over a confused multitude. 

“ Therefore have a place for everything, 
and everything in its place;” a “time for 
everything, and everything in its time.” Do 
first what presses most; and, having deter¬ 
mined what is to be done, and how it is to be 
done, lose no time in doing it. 


CHAPTER X. 


PUNCTUALITY. 

** Think not to-morrow, still shall be your care; 

Alas! to-morrow like to-day will fare.” 

Gifford. 

“Good is best, when soonest wrought. 

Lingering labors come to naught.” 

Southwell. 

Punctuality, which is said to be the soul of 
business, consists in the exact fulfillment of 
contracts, and is another important element in 
the art of money getting. It requires that 
payment should be made, at the time and in 
amount, precisely according to promise. It 
also requires the strict observance of appoint¬ 
ments with regard to time. The man known 
to be scrupulously exact in the fulfilment of en¬ 
gagements, gains the confidence of all, and 
may command any amount of means he can 
use to advantage. 


65 


56 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


We should never if possible, put any one to 
the inconvenience of calling on us a second 
time to collect a debt; for it is unjust to force 
a man to earn his money over again in the 
labor of calling for it. 

This valuable habit of punctuality dispatches 
business, saves time, and enables one to buy at 
the very lowest rates; for all are anxious to 
deal with the punctual; the spare money of 
his friends is always at his service. Where¬ 
as a man careless and regardless of his pro¬ 
mises in money matters, will have every purse 
closed against him. 

Some consume a large portion of each day 
in providing for the payments of the morrow. 
This is a ruinous waste of time, and must pro¬ 
ceed from bad management. To remedy this, 
every man should keep a reserve fund for con¬ 
tingencies. By thus preparing himself for 
emergencies, he will avoid much vexation and 
embarrassment. 

Many possessed of large property, are always 


PUNCTUALITY. 


57 


involved in pecuniary difficulties, from having 
through neglect of punctuality, got the name 
of being “slow pay.” Therefore be prompt 
in your payments. 


CHAPTER XI . 


POLITENESS—PATIENCE. 

“By kindness, smiles and manner courteous. 

He won men to his purpose.”—A non. 

“ Patience and resignation are the pillars 
Of human peace on earth.”— Young. 

“ How poor are they that have not patience. 
What wound did ever heal but by degrees.” 

Shakespeare. 

A polite, affable deportment is recommended. 
Politeness is defined to be a desire to please. 
It is a forgetting of ourselves in our anxiety 
to serve others—a sweet condescension by 
which we adapt ourselves to each man’s taste. 
It seeks to make people happy, and mani¬ 
fests itself in respect, attention and sympathy. 
“True politeness is real kindness, kindly ex¬ 
pressed ; it is a habit, and, like other habits, 
must be acquired by practice.” 


58 


POLITENESS-PATIENCE. 


59 


Agreeable manners contribute wonderfully 
to a man’s success. Take two men, possess¬ 
ing equal advantages in every other respect; 
but let one be gentlemanly, kind, obliging and 
conciliating; the other disobliging, rude, harsh 
and insolent, and the one will become rich 
w r hile the other will starve. 

No rhetoric is equal to suavity of manners. 
Pride loses hearts, but kindness wins them. 
Politeness gains favor and holds it; it enforces 
right and excuses wrong, and like charity, 
covers a multitude of sins; it prevents the out¬ 
burst of impatience, and lays a temporary 
restraint on all our selfish passions. Even as 
a matter of policy, there is nothing equal to 
it; for it not only gains a good name, but sup¬ 
plies the want of it. 

Even false politeness is better than none at 
all; for although hollow, it affects to please; 
and in life’s rough journey, “ it is like an air 
cushion, there may be nothing in it, but it eases 
our jolts wonderfully.” 


60 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


Success depends on conciliating the good 
will of our fellow men; for neither wealth 
nor power can be gained without their assis¬ 
tance. The great secret of gaining friends, 
is, to be friendly. Enlist their exertions, 
therefore in your favor, by an offer of the 
bounty of kindness in advance. This is the 
true method of acquiring friends. 

Endeavor to make a favorable impression 
on every individual with whom you may come 
in contact, and plant in his bosom the seeds of 
friendship, that you may dispose him to exert 
his influence as a champion in your cause,— 
for, from the moment you bring him to rank 
you among his friends, he will consider it his 
interest to sustain you, and an interchange 
of kindness will strengthen the bonds of good 
feeling. 

Conciliate all classes, for it must not be 
forgotten that the weakest and most abject may 
have it in their power to serve or injure you. 
The grateful mouse, in the fable, set the lion 


POLITENESS.-PATIENCE. 


61 


at liberty by gnawing off the cords that bound 
nim, and the same lion was worsted in a com¬ 
bat with the gnat. 

One of the best rules to promote harmony 
and prevent discord is this;—always exert your¬ 
self to please, while you bear patiently that 
which displeases. For how is it possible for us 
to quarrel with one who is constantly trying to 
please us, while at the same time he bears 
with all our infirmities of temper without 
complaining. This rule, by the way, is all 
important in domestic relations. But the best 
promoter of true politeness is the practice of 
the golden rule of doing as you would be done 
by. Man, in the grand outline of his nature, 
has been the same in all ages and in all na¬ 
tions; consequently, this rule is of universal 
application; and we have only to look into 
our own hearts to know what will be pleasing 
or painful to others; for generally what pleases 
us will please others; what wounds us will 
wound others. Treasure then this rule, for 
it will prove your best and surest guide 


62 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


A few words now on patience. 

To be calm under provocations; to bear, 
with an unruffled temper, even unmerited re¬ 
proaches ; to endure, without a murmur, “ the 
thousand natural ills that flesh is heir to,” is a 
virtue of the very highest order. 

Irritable, capricious and unreasonable people 
may, nevertheless, be profitable customers. To 
avoid offending them will demand the exercise 
of much patience and great forbearance—vir¬ 
tues which will be found of signal use, not 
only in the pursuit of wealth but in every re¬ 
lation of life. 

Jews are remarkable for this virtue; it is 
one of the elements of their success. The 
phrase, “rich as a Jew,” is proverbial. Shake¬ 
speare, in his “ Merchant of Venice,” makes 
the Jew refer to the patience with which he 
had borne the insults of the merchant, thus ;— 

tl Still have I borne it with a patient shrug. 

For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.’’ 


CHAPTER XII. 

ADVERTISING. 

** Many their fortunes owe, we think, 

To the magic power of “ printer’s ink.” 

Anon. 

All business grows out of our wants and de¬ 
sires. It is the object of each man, engaged 
in any employment, to administer to the wants 
of others, as a means of supplying his own; 
hence arises production and trade. 

Now in order to meet with patronage it is 
important to let people know which of these 
wants we can supply—how, then, can this be 
most effectually accomplished? 

It is a well established principle in mental 
philosophy, that the more frequently an idea 
has been impressed upon the mind, the more 

63 


64 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


apt it will be to recur. It follows then, from 
this principle, that if a man, prepared to sup¬ 
ply a given want, makes this fact generally 
known, and keeps it constantly before the pub¬ 
lic, then whenever this want arises to any one, 
it will instantly, by the law of association, 
bring to mind the individual who can supply 
it. This is the whole philosophy of adver¬ 
tising. Therefore, other things being equal, 
he who keeps himself most before the public 
will be most liberally patronized. 

By means then of newspapers, cards, and cir¬ 
culars, fail not to make your business exten¬ 
sively known. Let not the public forget you 
for a single moment. No investment yields 
so large a return as judicious advertising. 

Although, in many employments, it is the 
very soul of success, it is not equally necessary 
in all; yet it is more or less important in 
nearly every vocation. 


PART 11. 

CAUSES OF FAILURE. 


5 




CHAPTER. XIII. 

PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 

No forecast can guard us against the acci¬ 
dents of life. By a strict adherence to the 
rules of health, we may prolong life to a good 
old age. Yet these rules will not protect us 
against the many casualties to which we are 
exposed. So in business, unforeseen events, 
contingencies beyond the reach of human fore¬ 
sight, may defeat the most wisely arranged 
plans. 

It is estimated that out of every hundred 
men who commence business in our large 
cities, ninety fail outright; about six barely 
make salt for their broth; and four become 
wealthy. Now we firmly believe that by a 

67 


68 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


proper course this large proportion of failures 
might be materially diminished. 

Having in the foregoing remarks treated of 
some of the principal elements of success, we 
now proceed to give some hints, counsels, and 
cautions, calculated to prevent failure. 




CHAPTER XIV. 

COUNTERFEITS. 

** Why should the sacred character of virtue. 
Shine on a villain’s countenance ?” 

Dennis. 

“ A man may smile and smile, and be a villian.'’ 

Shakespeare. 


“ Your thief looks, in the crowd, 

Exactly like the rest, or rather better; 

'Tis only at the bar or in the dungeon, 

That wise men know your felon by his features.” 

Byron. 

By way of introduction, we will commence 
with a few remarks on counterfeits. 

We shall say nothing of counterfeit bank 
notes, nor of counterfeit coins, nor of counter¬ 
feit gems; there is a class of counterfeits in 
general circulation, infinitely more dangerous 
than any of these counterfeits, and by which 
we may lose more in a single day, than by 
counterfeit money in a whole lifetime. 

69 


70 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


Now can the reader divine to what class of 
counterfeits we refer? Well, we mean counter¬ 
feit honesty, counterfeit friendship, counter¬ 
feit sanctity; and many of them so well exe¬ 
cuted too, as often to deceive even good 
judges. 

Knavery counterfeits honesty, and villany 
counterfeits piety, in order more successfully to 
seize its prey. Poverty counterfeits wealth. 
Pride in its efforts to exalt itself, counterfeits 
humility;—counterfeit friendship, unsuspected, 
circulates everywhere. 

Self-interest is a perfect Proteus, and as¬ 
sumes every shape to serve its purpose. In 
short, everything that is valuable—every per¬ 
fection—every quality of either body or mind 
held in estimation among mankind, has its ap¬ 
propriate counterfeit. 

These counterfeits are generally over 
wrought, and this is the surest test, by which 
they may be detected. 

We give the following lines from “ The Man 


COUNTERFEITS. 


71 


without a Profession,” by Charles Rowecroft, 
as being much to our purpose. 

“Look at the world;—observe its deep deceits; 

No man—nothing—no speech is what it seems; 

A treacherous gloss is spread o’er grossest frauds. 
Veiling the rottenness that lurks beneath. 

Age mimics youth and wantons like young blood, 
And youth affects the wisdom of the sage, 

The miser gloats in secret o’er his gold. 

Lamenting to men’s ears his poverty! 

While the poor wretch to whom a single coin 
Would be a glimpse of Heaven, struts in state 
In velvet cloak and beaver fiercely cocked. 

Striving to cheat the vulgar ;—and himself! 

Aping the independent gentleman!” 


CHAPTER XV. 


KNOWLEDGE OF MEN. 

“The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.” 

Shakespeare. 

“ Oh, what authority and show of truth. 

Can cunning sin cover itself withal.” 

Shakespaere. 

“ There is no vice so simple but assumes 

Some mark of virtue on its outward parts.” 

Shakespeare. 

We will next consider the advantages of a 
cautious circumspection in our intercourse with 
with men. This is a very important topic ; in¬ 
attention to it is one of the most prolific 
causes of misfortune in business. 

Slowness of belief is essential to success. 
The maxim, that wise “ distrust is the parent of 
security, 55 is full of truth, and should not be 
forgotten. The credulous and confiding are 
ever the dupes of knaves and impostors. Ask 

72 


KNOWLEDGE OF MEN. 


73 


those who have lost their property, how it 
happened; and you will find in most cases, 
that it has been owing to misplaced confidence. 
One has lost by endorsing, another by credit¬ 
ing, and another by false representations. All 
of which, a little more foresight, and a little 
more distrust might have prevented. “ In the 
affairs of this world, men are saved not by 
faith, but by want of it.” Judge of men by 
what they do, not by what they say. Believe 
in looks rather than in words ; observe men’s 
actions, ascertain the motives, and their ends; 
notice what they say in their unguarded mo¬ 
ments, when under the influence of excitement. 
The passions have been compared to the tor¬ 
tures of the rack, which force men to reveal 
their secrets. 

Before trusting a man—before putting it in 
his power to cause you an injury, possess 
yourself of every information relative to him; 
learn his history and his habits; his inclina¬ 
tions and propensities; his reputation for hon¬ 
esty, industry, frugality and punctuality; his 


74 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


prospects, resources and supports; his advan¬ 
tages and disadvantages; his intentions and 
motives of action. Learn who are his friends 
and his enemies, and what are his good and 
bad qualities. You may ascertain a man’s 
good qualities and advantages from his friends; 
his bad qualities and advantages, from his ene¬ 
mies; make a due allowance for exaggeration 
in both. 

It is difficult for one to act against his ruling 
passion. Expect not then generosity in the 
miser; bravery in the coward; humility in 
the proud, or industry in the idle. 

Finally examine carefully before engaging 
in anything, and act with energy afterwards. 
Have the hundred eyes of Argus beforehand, 
and the hundred hands of Briarius after¬ 
wards. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


EXTRAVAGANCE. 


“The man who builds and wants wherewith to pay. 
Provides a home from which to run away.’’ 

Young. 


“ Dreading that climax of all human ills. 

The inflammation of his weekly bills. ,> 

Byron. 


“We sacrifice to dress till household joys 
And comforts cease.” 


Cowper. 


Every large city is filled with persons, who 
in order to support the appearance of wealth 
constantly live beyond their income, and make 
up the deficiency by contracting debts, which 
are never paid. Others there are—the mere 
drones of society—who pass their days in 
idleness, and subsist by pirating on the hives 
of the industrious. Many, who run a short 
lived career of splendid beggary, could they 

75 


76 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


but be persuaded to adopt a system of rigid 
economy for a few years, might pass the re¬ 
mainder of their days in affluence. But, no ! 
They must keep up appearances ; they must 
live like other folks. Their debts accumulate ; 
their credit fails ; they are harrassed by duns 
and besieged by constables and sheriffs. In 
this extremity, as a last resort, they often sub¬ 
mit to a shameful dependence, or engage in crim¬ 
inal practices, which entail hopeless wretched¬ 
ness and infamy on themselves and families. 

Manifold, truly, are the misdeeds, which 
flow from the vain efforts on the part of the 
poor to ape the magnificence of the wealthy. 
Living beyond one’s income, in order to seem 
rich, is the fruitful parent of falsehood, fraud, 
craft, and duplicity; of imposture and swind¬ 
ling; of gambling, forgery, robbery and even 
murder! Indeed, most of the misfortunes of life 
—of its cares, vexations, extravagance, and anx¬ 
ieties may be traced to this insane ambition. 

Many persons honestly disposed to live 
within their income, fall into embarrassments 


EXTRAVAGANCE. 


77 


from miscalculation. A man, for example, esti¬ 
mates his annual profit at two thousand dollars, 
and endeavors to regulate his expenses so as 
not to exceed this sum. 

Now, profits are uncertain, and expenses 
certain; and should his profits, by mishap, not 
exceed one thousand dollars and his expenses 
swell to three thousand, it is clear that he will 
find himself, at the end of the year, minus two 
thousand dollars. How many have been 
ruined by this very error! 

We are all too apt to overrate our profits, 
and underrate our expenses. So that the 
safest rule will be, to always let our supposed 
income greatly exceed our contemplated ex¬ 
penses. 

One of the means of avoiding extravagance 
is, to pay cash for whatever you buy. The 
credit system is valuable in commercial oper¬ 
ations. It has its advantages and its disad¬ 
vantages. One of its greatest evils is, that 
it fosters extravagance. If we were compelled 


78 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


to pay cash we could not live beyond our in¬ 
come. 

“ Fashion,” it is said “is the race of the 
rich to get aw r ay from the poor, who follow as 
fast as they can.” And it might truly be 
added, if they cannot follow on cash, they will 
endeavor to do it on credit. 

The poor Shortworths. must vie with 
their rich neighbors the Longworths. They 
are visiting acquaintances, and must keep up 
with them. If the Longworths give a dashing 
party, the Shortworths must do the same. If 
the Longworths get a fine carriage, the Short¬ 
worths must have as fine a one. And, for lack 
of cash, they resort to credit; until, finally, 
like the frog in the fable, striving to swell 
himself to the size of the ox, they burst up. 
What a revolution in the appearance of things 
would the abolition of the credit system effect! 
How many gay birds would it strip of their 
gaudy plumage ! 


CHAPTER XVII. 

GAMING — INTEMPERANCE — IDLE¬ 
NESS. 

“Oh, that men should put an enemy in 
Their mouths to steal away their brains !” 

Shakespeare, 

“Who gets by play, proves loser in the end.” 

Heath, 


“ To what gulfs 

A single deviation from the track 
Of human duties leads!” Byron. 

Gaming. —This is one of the great high¬ 
ways to ruin. It arises from the vain hope of 
acquiring wealth without labor. One of its 
most insidious forms is that of lottery; for 
many who would recoil at the idea of being 
seen in a gambling-house, have no hesitation 
in buying lottery tickets. This vice sometimes 
becomes a perfect mania, driving its victim 

79 


80 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


to utter despair, and not unfrequently to self- 
murder. 

Intemperance. —Habitual intemperance is 
prolific of wretchedness. It unfits a man 
for all exertion of body or mind. It ruins 
his credit, wastes his property destroys his 
health, and brings him to a premature grave. 

Idleness paralyzes all exertion ; it shrinks 
from action, and involves the soul in a dan¬ 
gerous calm. It strangles energy, kills resolu¬ 
tion, suspends useful pursuits, and swallows 
up all other passions. The idle man neglects 
his business, leaving it to the care of Provi¬ 
dence. He is uneasy, unsettled, wretched; a 
drone in the hive of industry; a looker-on 
where all are busy. He is of no use to him¬ 
self, nor to any one else, and can succeed in 
no undertaking. In a word, he is a nonentity. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


FALSE FRIENDS. 

“Not always actions show the man; we find 
Who does a kindness is not therefore kind-” 

Pope. 

Their friendship is a lurking snare; 

Their honor but an idle breath.’ * 

Simms. 

** An open foe may prove a curse, 

But a pretended friend is worse. 

Gay. 

“ True friendship aims full breast high, 
while its counterfeit levels its dirty assiduities 
at the pocket.” 

There is much wisdom in the prayer of one 
of the ancients, “ Deliver me from my friends, 
I can protect myself against my enemies.” 
Whoever gets full possession of the heart, finds 
but little difficulty in directing the operations 
of the head. There is no sophistry that so 
0 81 


82 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


effectually blinds us to the truth, as our own 
passion. 

Let a man flatter our foibles ; let him ap¬ 
pear honest and friendly; let him sympathise 
with us in all our feelings, and seem to take a 
warm interest in our welfare; let him kneel 
at the same altar, sacrifice at the same politi¬ 
cal shrine, and meet us with the grasp of love, 
as a brother member of the same secret frater¬ 
nities, and it will be very difficult to think him 
a bad man, very difficult to withhold from him 
our full confidence, although in reality he may 
be one of the worst of mankind. How many 
have learned this to their sorrow? How 
many have been ruined by confidence in false 
friends ? 


CHAPTER XIX. 

ERRORS OF JUDGMENT. 

“ How little do they see what is, who frame 
Their hasty judgments upon that which seems.” 

Southey. 

“ Appearance may deceive thee—understand, 

A pure white glove may hide a filthy hand.” 

Anon. 

There is one person you should distrust 
above all others, and against whom we feel it 
our special duty to warn you; for unless you 
are perpetually on your guard, he will be 
constantly misleading you, and although we 
dislike indulging in personalities, we feel it 
incumbent on us to expose him. It is no 
other person, reader, than your own dear self. 
The difficulty of deciding impartially upon 
our own acts arises from the circumstance 
that we are both judge and jury in our own 

83 


84 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


cause, and consequently whatever may be the 
facts in the case, are almost sure to render a 
favorable verdict. 

Nothing is more difficult than self-knowledge. 
Solon, one of the" seven sages, thought that 
all wisdom centered in the precept “know 
thyself.” The exclamation “save me from 
myself,” is even more appropriate than that 
of “ save me from my friends ;” for man is the 
worst enemy to himself. 

A humble distrust of self is the parent of 
many virtues, and wards off a multitude of 
evils. The strongest proofs of folly any man 
can give are obstinacy, self-sufficiency and the 
belief in his own infallibility, for he places the 
most implicit confidence in that grand deceiver 

SELF. 

“ The first chapter of fools is to think them¬ 
selves wise.” Things seen through the me¬ 
dium of passion are always either distorted, 
diminished, or magnified, and never beheld in 
their true colors. 

As the weakest reasons appear strong when 


ERRORS OF JUDGMENT, 


85 


they favor our self love, so the strongest 
reasons appear weak when opposed to this pas¬ 
sion. Hence, when reason goes against our 
desires, we go against reason. Such is the 
influence of self-love, that “ the flatterer with¬ 
in is almost sure to agree with the flatterer 
without ; 55 therefore, if we would guard against 
the encroachments of error, we should keep 
one eye on this flatterer within, and the other 
on the flatterer without. 

Make it a fixed rule to distrust your own 
judgment, in all cases, where your feelings 
are enlisted, and seek the counsel of some 
cool, judicious friend; for a ruffled mind like 
a ruffled stream, reflects nothing distinctly. He 
who has the clearest perception of his own 
defects is the wisest, and will be most ready 
to avail himself of the judgement of others in 
all matters of importance. Knowing the 
many sources of error, he will never be satis¬ 
fied of the truth of any opinion that does not 
rest on the solid basis of self-evident princi¬ 
ples. After he has taken a deliberate survey 


86 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


of all the objects within the reach of his mind’s 
eye, he is far from supposing that he has seen 
all, and suspends his decision until he has 
availed himself of every possible information 
which might tend to throw additional light on 
the question in hand. He knows that even in 
the longest mathematical process a single error, 
or omission, however slight, will lead to a 
false conclusion; so in an extended chain of 
moral reasoning, a single mistake, or the want 
of a single fact, will lead to an erroneous de¬ 
cision. 

Some people are in the habit of jumping at 
conclusions. They take up opinions hastily, 
and, on the very slightest grounds of belief, hold 
them with the utmost obstinacy. They pride 
themselves upon the name of being prompt, 
off-hand men in their decisions; and in the 
matters too which require that searching and 
deliberate investigation which is so necessary 
in order to arrive at the truth. This foolish 
ambition is an endless source of misfortune. 

How happens it, that our pretensions are so 


ERRORS OF JUDGMENT. 


87 


often the standard by which the world judges 
of us? Is it not that people are too lazy to 
look into the foundation of these pretensions, 
and prefer taking us for what we choose to pass 
ourselves, rather than to submit to the labor of 
examining our claims? We are all too apt to 
take opinions on trust. Even in matters of the 
greatest moment people often trust to hear-say 
evidence—to a mere “ they say.” Now, this 
“they say” is by the way, a personage of very 
questionable veracity. They say he is mak¬ 
ing money. They say he will break.—They 
say he is worth a hundred thousand dollars. 
They say he is worth nothing. They say he 
is honest. They say he is a rascal. In short 
it is one of the easiest matters, to artfully get 
up a “they say,” calculated to either benefit 
or injure any individual; and many, too, will 
believe on no better evidence, than this mere 
shadow of a shadow. In a word, the logic 
of the unthinking multitude is, they say it is 
so, therefore it is true, I never heard of such 
a thing, therefore it is not true. 


88 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


We will now give a few directions as aids 
to arrive at truth. As he who has looked 
farthest into the past, is best qualified to pene¬ 
trate deepest into the future, we should in all 
doubtful matters of moment, consult the old, 
the judicious, and the experienced. In decid¬ 
ing relative to the truth of any statement, 
and especially where loss may accrue from 
error. 

First. Consider whether the judgment of 
the party, from whom we seek information 
may not be warped by interest or prejudice, for 
he may honestly err, through the influence of 
these motives. 

Second. Whether he has had opportuni¬ 
ties of acquiring, from personal observation, a 
sufficient number of facts, on which to base 
a correct judgment; for his conclusions may 
be the result of slight and hear-say evidence. 

Third. Whether he has fully availed him¬ 
self of these opportunities ; for inattention 
may have disqualified him for judging cor¬ 
rectly. 


ERRORS OF JUDGMENT. 


89 


Fourth. Whether he is capable of arriving 
at correct conclusions from given facts; for 
he may be unable to draw true inferences from 
premises. 

Fifth. Whether the character of the wit¬ 
ness may be relied on, for truth; for he may 
wilfully misrepresent facts. 

Sixth. Whether his statements accord with 
facts already known. 

When men apply personally, wishing to 
obtain your property on credit, you may gain 
much valuable information, relative to their 
history and circumstances, from themselves. 
If they are willing to disclose their affairs 
fully and honestly, we know of no better 
means of gaining the knowledge, requisite to 
determine the question of whether they are 
trustworthy. If under such examinations, 
they should prevaricate, or attempt to deviate 
from the truth, their manner will be sure to 
betray them. A man cannot know what ques¬ 
tion you are about to ask. A true answer will 
be unhesitating; it will be a transcript from 


90 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


memory, which needs no help; it is near at 
hand, it is on the tongue’s end. Whereas, 
falsehood requires invention, is troublesome, 
produces hesitation, contradicts, and is easily 
detected. 

Finally, when in doubt how to act, stand 
still, hold on, and wait for light. 

Sancho Panza, the redoubtable squire of 
the redoubtable Knight Don Quixote, one very 
dark night, while on his way to his lady love 
fell into a pit. In his descent, he had the 
good fortune to catch and cling to one of its 
inequalities, where he held on, all night, 
quaking with fright, and half dead with terror. 
When daylight came, he discovered that his 
toes were but six inches from the bottom; yet 
who will say that Sancho was not right in 
holding on, and waiting for light. 


CHAPTER XX. 


COUNSELS AND CAUTIONS. 

“Prudence! thou vainly in our youth art sought; 
And with age purchased art too dearly bought.” 

Dryden. 


“ They that fear the adder’s sting. 
Will not come near his hissing.” 


Chapman. 


** None pities him that’s in the snare. 

And warned before, would not beware.” 

Herrick. 

Lawyers- Going to law is supposed to be 
ruinous. There can be no doubt that through 
ignorance of law, many have lost their proper¬ 
ty. Therefore, in all transactions of impor¬ 
tance, we should take no step, until after hav¬ 
ing obtained legal advice.—In employing a 
lawyer, see that he has a reputation for hon¬ 
esty ; that he thoroughly understands his pro- 

91 


92 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


fession; and that he attends faithfully to the 
interests of his clients. A lazy dishonest 
incompetent lawyer is W'orse than none ; for 
if he is ever successful in collecting claims 
for you, it might be necessary to employ an¬ 
other lawyer to get your money out of his 
hands. 

Insurance. —By neglecting insurance, more 
especially if we are in debt, we are guilty of 
unpardonable injustice both to ourselves and 
others. It is our indispensable duty to insure 
to the amount, at least, of our indebtedness. 
For it is most culpable, through our neglect, 
to peril the property of those who have trust¬ 
ed us. 

Many have lost everything by mere care¬ 
lessness in this respect. And then exercise 
much discretion in the choice of an office, 
for some of them may be insolvent; and many 
have lost by the bankruptcy of such institu¬ 
tions. See, then, that your office is sound, and 
managed by honest, discreet and honorable 


men. 


COUNSELS AND CAUTIONS. 


93 


Banks. —Misplaced confidence in banks is 
another cause of loss. A banker buys and 
sells the use of money; his profit, as in all 
other business, is the difference between what 
he gives and what he gets. And, like all 
others, too, who do a credit business, his suc¬ 
cess, and the safety of those who trust him, 
depend upon the care and prudence of his 
management. His whole strength depends 
upon the strength of those whom he has 
trusted; if they are strong, his bank is strong; 
if weak, his bank is weak; if unsound, his 
bank is unsound. And many a bank has 
fallen by mismanagement. No matter how 
large the capital, ignorance, dishonesty, or in¬ 
capacity on the part of those who have the 
direction of its affairs, will ruin it 

Agents. —All whose business requires the 
help of others, are exposed to loss, from the 
incompetency or dishonesty of agents. Not 
a few have suffered severely from the miscon¬ 
duct of such agents. The selection of trust¬ 
worthy assistants demands the utmost care. 


94 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


Their characters should be closely scrutinized. 
It is safer to trust to good habits than to good 
recommendations. 

Ignorance. —No man should ever under¬ 
take any business, without having first obtain¬ 
ed a thorough knowledge of it in all its 
branches and relations. Whoever expects to 
succeed without this necessary knowledge will 
be wofully disappointed. Ignorance, and a 
want of business habits is, perhaps, the most 
frequent cause of failure. Therefore, let no 
one venture on a business which he does not 
thoroughly understand. 

Speculation. —To reach a fortune by a 
short cut, instead of the long and tedious route 
of industry and economy, many dash into 
heavy and disastrous speculations.—They pur¬ 
chase goods and lands on credit, with the hope 
of selling out at a profit before their payments 
become due. But, unfortunately for them, 
their purchases too often fall, instead of rising, 
and they are compelled to sell at ruinous sac¬ 
rifices, in order to meet their payments. 


COUNSELS AND CAUTIONS. 


95 


Therefore, never speculate, unless you can do 
it with your own capital, so as not to be forced 
to sell at a disadvantage. 

Partners. —Great circumspection is re¬ 
quired in the choice of a partner. It is bet¬ 
ter to take one possessed of energy, skill, in¬ 
tegrity, and other good business habits, al¬ 
though he bring not one cent of capital, than 
one with ever so large a capital, without 
good habits. No small number of men have 
been plunged into poverty through the mis¬ 
deeds of their partners. A man lies at the 
mercy of his partner, for he can ruin him 
if he will. Ponder well, then, before en¬ 
tering into a connection of so much impor¬ 
tance. 

Bad Company. —What multitudes are drag¬ 
ged down from the summit of prosperity, by 
the contagious example of vicious associates. 
Loss of credit, reputation and property, habits 
of idleness, dissipation and crime, are among 
the evils which spring from ill chosen com¬ 
panions. The maxims, “ Tell me who you live 


96 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


with, and I will tell you who you are.” 
“ Tell me who you go with, and I will 
tell you what you do,” are based upon the 
fundamental principle that man is an imi¬ 
tative being. He cannot live in, and frequent 
the society of the vicious, without becoming 
more or less like them. This principle is so 
well understood, that it has grown into a 
common saying, that a man is known by the 
company he keeps ; and, in the absence of all 
other knowledge, it is one of the very best 
tests of character. Knaves and fools are 
gregarious, as well as the wise and the vir¬ 
tuous. 

Finally, it may be remarked, that to speci¬ 
fy all the multifarious causes of failure would 
be a hopeless task. Their name is Legion. 
Among them may be farther enumerated, u Bad 
measures of Government; great undertakings 
with small means; trading on borrowed capi¬ 
tal ; too expensive an establishment either in 
fixtures or in clerks ; accumulated stock bought 
at high prices, or from ignorance of the state 


COUNSELS AND CAUTIONS. • 97 

of trade in general, or his own in particular, 
or from the delay, or cost, or ambiguity of the 
law, or from the dissipation of a son, or other 
member of the family, or from the sudden fall 
in real estate, with obligations of old date, 
given for property at high rates, or the intro¬ 
duction of new inventions, or the great fall in 
the price of peculiar machinery, so that other 
competitors come into the field upon more fa¬ 
vorable terms, or from becoming security for 
others ; or from the falling off of that particular 
branch of trade by reason of the retail trader 
dealing directly with the manufacturer instead 
of the merchant, or from the trade going to 
another place of more convenient locality. 
In a word, “the causes of failure are as nu¬ 
merous as the follies, vices and misfortunes of 
mankind.” 

We started with tne proposition, that any 
man, with sound judgment, unimpaired health 
and energy of character, may become the ar¬ 
chitect of his own fortune. Although this is 
true, yet success depends upon the union and 
‘ 7 


98 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


harmonious action, of so many requisites that 
comparatively few will ever attain to for¬ 
tune. 

In the complicated machinery of the human 
frame, a thousand organs must act in con¬ 
cert, to produce health. Impair but one, and 
the whole fabric becomes disordered. 

So in the pursuit of wealth, the lack of a 
single element, may defeat the end. One can 
gain money but cannot save it; another can 
save but has no talent for gaining it.—Another, 
again, after having employed many years in 
acquiring a competence, may, for want of suf¬ 
ficient distrust, lose it in a single day; or in 
grasping at too much, he may lose all. In a 
word, for want of sufficient prudence, foresight, 
knowledge and deliberation, some one of the 
many disturbing causes which interfere with 
his seemingly well devised measures, are ever 
at work counteracting and baffling his efforts, 
for the advancement of his fortune. 


PART III. 

EMPLOYMENT OF WEALTH. 









CHAPTER XXL 


PERSONAL USES OF MONEY. 

“Fell luxury! more perilous to youth 
Than storms or quick-sands, poverty or chains!” 

Hannah Moke. 

“If men would shun swoll’n fortune’s ruinous blasts. 
Let them use temperance; nothing violent lasts.” 

Strachey. 

In the eager pursuit of wealth, beware of 
the inordinate cravings of avarice; for an insa¬ 
tiable thirst of gain will mar the noblest 
sympathies of the soul, close the heart against 
the social charities of life, and deaden all the 
finer sensibilities of human nature. 

However great your wealth, if you value 
health and its buoyancy of spirits, you must 
live, in some degree, like a poor man. You 
must adopt his temperate diet, his regular ex¬ 
ercise, and early hours of retiring and rising; 

101 


102 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


for if you plunge into the follies of fashion¬ 
able life—its luxury, dissipation, and irregula¬ 
rities, your wealth will become a source of 
wretchedness instead of enjoyment; and with 
a mind and body enervated by excess, the con¬ 
dition of the sturdy beggar, in the full enjoy¬ 
ment of health who creeps in rags from door 
to door, will be far preferable to yours. 

If I am to live like a poor man, you may 
ask, what then are the uses of wealth? We 
will tell you. It will give you leisure for 
the improvement of your mind and provide 
you with the solid comforts of life. It will 
enable you to educate your children and devote 
more of your personal attention to the for¬ 
mation of their habits. It will give you means 
of establishing them comfortably in the world. 
And by the way it is much better to spend 
your money in filling your children’s heads 
with useful knowlege, than in laying it up to fill 
their pockets. Had you millions o ’ wealth, 
you would be doing them an injury, were you to 
use it in making them independent of all ex- 


PERSONAL USES OF MONEY. 


103 


ertion. Give them habits of industry, eco¬ 
nomy, temperance, truth and self-denial, and 
you will leave them a legacy of more value 
than all the wealth of the Indies. For these 
habits will prove a perpetual fountain of 
wealth, whereas the largest fortune accom¬ 
panied with habits of idleness, extravagance, 
and dissipation, might disappear in a single 
day. 


CHAPTER XXII. 


CHARITIES AND DONATIONS. 

“ The truly generous is the truly wise; 

And he who loves not others, lives unblest.’ ’— Home. 

“The drying up a single tear has more 

Of honest fame, than shedding seas of gore.” 

Bvkon. 

Great wealth is oftener a curse than a bless¬ 
ing to children. Instead then of leaving them 
enough to pass their days in idleness; how 
much better would it be to devote a part of 
your means to institutions for relieving the 
sufferings of the wretched and thus entail your 
property, for the benefit of the unfortunate of 
all future generations. 

It thus will enable you to purchase the grati¬ 
fication of doing good. And this is the only 
luxury, in which you may safely indulge— 
luxury, that will be attended with, no regrets, 

104 


CHARITIES AND DONATIONS. 105 

but on the contrary will fill the mind with 
the most delightful retrospections. 

Though all you can rake and scrape, may 
legally be yours, morally a portion of it be¬ 
longs to the helpless, to the sons and daugh¬ 
ters of misfortune, to our fellow travelers, on 
life’s journey, who have fainted and fallen by 
the way, to orphan age and orphan infancy, 
to the destitute sick, and maimed. These are 
our brethren, the children of one common 
Parent, who must feel an equal interest in all. 
Do not suppose, for a moment, that the great 
Father of all has endowed you with health, 
and capacity of obtaining unbounded wealth, 
that you may expend it in selfish indulgences, 
in fostering pride, pomp and extravagance. 
No. In thus favoring you above his other 
children, He has merely made you His trustee, 
to administer to the wants of the afflicted, and 
will hold you to a strict account, for the 
honest exercise of this important trust—what 
are we all but voyagers on life’s troubled 
ocean ; some moving on with prosperous gales, 


106 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


others struggling in vain against storms. Now 
what are we to think of him who, while se¬ 
curely traversing this Occean with all sails 
spread, can pass by his shipwrecked fellow 
voyager, can turn from his imploring look, his 
out-stretched arms, his piteous cry for help, 
and leave him to the mercy of the winds and 
waves. 

Let us seek to discharge our duty to the 
Giver of all good, by applying our superabun¬ 
dant wealth to the relief of his creatures. 
Seeing that so many must lie down and perish 
for want without our assistance, it does seem 
that no duty is more clearly enjoined than 
that of charity. 

We will now pass from the consideration of 
this virtue, as a mere duty, and say something 
of the real happiness to ourselves, flowing 
from its exercise. There is not one of all the 
transitory joys of life, that can render us so un¬ 
speakably happy, as the habitual exercise of 
this virtue. 


CHARITIES AND DONATIONS. 


107 


** Woulds’t thou from sorrow find a sweet relief? 

Or is thine heart oppressed with woes untold? 

Balm would’st thou gather for corroding grief? 

Pour blessings round thee like a shower of gold.” 

“ When we have practised good actions 
awhile they become easy; and when they are 
easy, we begin to take a pleasure in doing 
them ; and when they please us, we do them 
frequently; and by frequency of acts they 
grow into a habit.” 

6 Never did any soul do good, but it came 
readier to do the same again with more enjoy¬ 
ment. Never was love or gratitude or bounty 
practised but with increasing joy, which made 
the practisers still more in love with the 
fair act.” Therefore, “ He who does good 
to another, does good to himself, not only in 
the consequence, but in the very act of doing it, 
for the consciousness of well-doing is an ample 
reward.” 

And when our last hour arrives, as come it 
must, when everything earthly is fading from 
our view, and we look oiit upon the light of 


108 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


the sun for the last time, in that dread moment, 
we shall surely not feel any worse about the 
heart, from the reflection that a part of our 
superfluous wealth has been devoted to the re¬ 
lief of suffering humanity. 

But if the higher motives of duty to heaven, 
and the conscious satisfaction of doing good, 
are not sufficient inducements, to the practice 
of this exalted virtue, we would appeal to your 
desire of the respect of your fellow men. Can 
you think it more honorable to live in a splen¬ 
did mansion, surrounded by pomp and gran¬ 
deur in all the ostentatious parade of wealth, 
than to relieve the pining wants of cheerless 
poverty ? Pride mistakes its aim in seeking to 
elevate itself by vain show, instead of seeking 
honor by conferring benefits on mankind. 

The name of John Howard, is known and 
honored throughout the whole civilized world, 
lie has immortalized himself, by his exertions 
in the cause of humanity. In visiting the 
prisons and hospitals of Europe ; seeking to 
better the condition of their inmates; and in 


CHARITIES AND DONATIONS. 


109 


devoting his life and fortune to this noble 
cause, he has earned a claim on the admiration 
of posterity, greater than the proudest con- 
querer can boast. 

To do good became the all absorbing pas¬ 
sion of his soul, until, at last, he fell by conta¬ 
gion, in the midst of his philanthropic exertions. 

While living, Princes, Kings, and Emperors 
sought to do him honor; and now his statue 
occupies a conspicious place among heroes and 
Statesmen in St. Paul’s Church, London. 
Now had he selfishly lavished his fortune upon 
himself, who supposes that the world would 
ever have heard the name of John Howard. 

But if neither a sense of duty nor the happi¬ 
ness of doing good, nor the love of fame are 
sufficient motives; we may appeal to the desire 
of gain; for though it is a sordid inducement 
to charity, yet as the poor will be gainers by 
it, even this motive is better than none at all : 
“He that glveth to the poor lendeth to the 
Lord, and him will he repay four-fold.” 


110 


GUIDE TO WEALTH. 


Avarice is ill judged economy. “It holds a 
dime so close to the eye, that it cannot see the 
dollar beyond it.” 

The liberal man gains the respect, esteem 
and good will, of all except the envious.— 
People take pleasure in promoting his interest. 

And thus he advances his fortune by con¬ 
tributing to the wants of others. In conclu¬ 
sion, besides acts of charity proper, we should 
give freely to all institutions which tend to 
improve the moral, intellectual and physi¬ 
cal well being of mankind. 






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OF 

Fine Engravings, 

SCRAP-BOOK PRINTS, 

AND 

Cheap Lithograph* • 


The following Miscellane¬ 
ous Stock: 

TRAVELING MAPS, 

Scliool Apparatus, 

OUTLINE MAPS, 

ATLASES & GAZETEERS, 

Anatomical Plates, 

GEOLOGICAL CABINETS, 

Microscopes and Telescopes, 
DRAWING INSTRUMENTS. 
Artist's Materials, 

Impression Paper 

FOR 

COPYING PATTERNS, ETC. 

Portable Writing Desks 

IN 

ROSEWOOD & LEATHER, 

Artificial Flower Materials, 

PEN-KNIVES, 

PORTMONNAIES, 

AND GOLD PENS, 

( 1 ) 





GENERAL MAP 

ESTABLISKMEKTT, 

3 College Hall, Walnut St., Cincinnati. 


E. MENDENHALL, 

Keeps always on hand a large stock of all kinds of MAPS, 
mounted and in pocket form, and every description of 

GUIDE BOOKS 

for the United States, Eastern and Middle States, Southern and 
Western States, Nebraska and Kansas, Canada, Isthmus of Panama, 
California and Oregon. Among the stock may be found 


MAPS OP THE WORLD, Four sizes..$ 1.50 to 10.00 

“ “ NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA,. 1.50 

“ “ NORTH AMERICA,.$1.25 to 5.00 

« “ SOUTH AMERICA. 4.00 

“ “ EUROPE, ASIA, AND AFRICA, each,.. 2-00 to 5.00 

“ “ UNITED STATES, various sizes,. 1.50 to 10.00 

• “ EACH OF THE WESTERN STATES, 

in Townships,. 40c. to 75.00 

“ “ WESTERN STATES, together. 00c. to 3.00 

“ “ NEBRASKA AND KANSAS, each,. 50c. 

“ “ WEST INDIES MEXICO AND TEXAS, 

each separate,. 50c. to 2.00 

“ “ CENTRAL AMERICA AND ISTHMUS 

OF PANAMA. 50c. 

“ “ FRANCE AND BELGIUM, EGYPT AND 

ARABIA. 50c. to 150 

“ “ PALESTINE, large and small,. $2.50 to 6.00 

“ “ THE COUNTRIES MENTIONED IN THE 

BIBLE,. 

“ “ ENGLAND, WALES, IRELAND AND 

SCOTLAND,. 

“ “ CINCINNATI AND VICINITY,. 40c. to 5.00 


SECTIONAL MAPS of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, 
Wisconsin, etc., 75c to $2.00, in cases. 

RAILWAY MAPS of the Western States, and United States; also 
the monthly Railway Guides. 

JX^pPocket Maps sent free by mail on receipt of the price. 


















THE BEST YET! 


PELTON’S SYSTEM OF GEOGRAPHY, 

Decided by every TEACHER’S ASSOCIATION to be the 
only rapid and thorough mode of teaching Geography. 


PELTON’S OUTLINE MAPS, 

Beautifully colored, mounted, and varnished, in the best 
style, consist of the following, namely: 


1. PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL 
MAP OP THE WESTERN 
HEMISPHERE—7 feet by 7 
feet. 

2. PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL 
MAP OF THE EASTERN 
HEMISPHERE—7 feet by 7 
feet. 

3. MAP OF THE UNITED 
STATES. British Provinces. 
Mexico, Central America, 
and the West India Islands, 
—7 feet by 7 feet. 

4. MAP OF EUROPE—6 feet by 
7 feet. 


5. MAP OF ASIA—G feet by 7 
feet. 

6. MAP of S. AMERICA and 
AFRICA—6 feet by 7 feet. 

FELTON’S KEY TO FULL SE¬ 
RIES OF OUTLINE MAPS. 
PELTON’S KEY TO HEMIS¬ 
PHERE MAPS. 


Prices of tBie WorJks. 

Full Series of Six Maps.. $25.00 
The two Hemisphere Maps.10.00 
Map of the Unitdd States. ..5.00 

Either Key, per dozen,.3.60 

“ “ Each.40 


These Maps and Keys are rapidly coming into general use 
throughout the country, and are extremely popular wherever 
known. In order to secure their universal introduction and 
use in the West, the subscriber respectfully solicits the co¬ 
operation of all those interested in the promotion of 
Education. 


The Maps of the Hemisphere and Keys alone, or togethej 
with the Map of the United States, etc., are admirably adap 
ted for use in the Common District Schools, and the Ful* 
Series and Key are equally well fitted for Academies. 
Seminaries, and the larger District and Union School* 
These Maps need only be seen to be appreciated at once. 

I3F Maps of every description always on hand. 


For sale, wholesale and retail, by E. MENDENHALL, at 
his Map Establishment, No. 3, College Hall, Walnut-street, 
Cinicnnati. 


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SWEDENBORG’S WRITINGS, 

IN WHICH ARE REVEALED 

THE DOCTRINES OF THE NEW CHURCH. 

FOR SALE BT 

E. MENDENHALL, 

No* 3 College Hall, Cincinnati* 

ARCANA CCELESTIA; or, Heavenly Mysteries contained 
in the Sacred Scripture or Word of the Lord, manifest 
and laid open; and INDEX. 10 vols. 8vo. $1 per vol. 

THE APOCALYPSE REVEALED; wherein are disclosed 
the Arcana therein foretold, which have hithreto remained 
concealed. With an INDEX. $1. 50 to $2. 

THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED according to the Scrip¬ 
ture Sense; wherein are revealed (more at large and 
more fully illustrated than in the preceeding work) the 
Arcana which are predicted therein. 5 vols. $6. 

THE FOUR LEADING DOCTRINES OF THE NEW 
CHURCH, signified in the Revelation, chap, xxi, by the 
New Jerusalem, being those concerning The Lord, The 
Sacred Scripture, (to which is added The White 
Horse,) Faith, and Love. 1 vol. 60c. 
each of the above doctrines may be had separately. 

THE NEW JERUSALEM AND ITS HEAVENLY 
DOCTRINE. 12mo. 10 cents. 

DOCTRINE OF THE N. J. CONCERNING CHARITY. 
10 cents. 

TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION; or, The Universal The¬ 
ology of the New Church. 1 vol. 8vo. $1. 50. 

A TREATISE CONCERNING THE LAST JUDGMENT 
AND THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON, 12mo. 
cloth, 40c. 

THE EARTHS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM: Together 
with an account of their Inhabitants, and also of the 
Spirits and Angels there. 8vo. Cloth 40c. 

THE ATH AN ASIAN CREED. Extracted from the Apoca¬ 
lypse Explained. New edition. 12mo. Cloth, 40c. 

( 4 ) 


Swedenborg’s Writings—Continued. 

TEEATISE ON THE DIVINE LOVE AND WISDOM. 
Extracted from the Apocalypse Explained. 12mo. Cloth, 
40c. 

THE WISDOM OF ANGELS CONCERNING THE 
DIVINE LOVE AND THE DIVINE WISDOM. 8vo. 
Cloth, 50c. 

THE WISDOM OF ANGELS CONCERNING THE 
DIVINE PROVIDENCE, in which the Laws of Order 
arc unfolded by which the Divine Government is regu¬ 
lated. Svo. 60 cents. 

THE DELIGHTS OF WISDOM CONCERNING CONJU- 
GIAL LOVE. 8vo. $1. 25. 

A TREATISE CONCERNING HEAVEN AND ITS WON¬ 
DERS, AND ALSO CONCERNING HELL-Being a 
Relation of things seen and heard. 8vo. 65 cents. 

A SUMMARY EXPOSITION OF THE INTERNAL 
SENSE OF THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS OF THE 
OLD TESTAMENT, AND OF THE PSALMS. 12mo. 
25 cents. 

A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE DOCTRINES OF THE 
NEW CHURCH. 12mo. 15 cents. 

THE NATURE OF THE INTERCOURSE BETWEEN 
THE SOUL AND THE BODY. 12mo. 10 cents. 

ON THE WHITE HORSE—Mentioned in Revelation, chap, 
xix. 10 cents. 


Swedenborg’s Philosophical Works. 

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 

THE ECONOMY OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 

THE PRTNCIP1A. OR FIRST PRINCIPLES OF 
NATURAL THINGS. 

OUTLINES OF A PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT ON 
THE INFINITE. 

PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY—With other Treatises. 
MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS CONNECTED 
WITH THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 

POSTHUMOUS TRACTS. 

HIEROGLYPHIC KEY. 

WORSHIP AND LOVE OF GOD. 

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THE ONKEN SERIES 

OF 

Juvenile Books, 

Embellished, with Superior 

HANDSOMELY COLORED ENGRAVINGS. 

The series will consist of eight books, six of which are already 
issued, and are mentioned below: 

1. THE LITTLE GIRL’S DIAMOND; containing pretty stories 

and colored pictures. 

2. TALES OP THE LAND AND SEA; with seven beautifully 

colored pictures. 

3. A GARLAND OF SIX STORIES for the Juveniles, with six 

colored pictures. 

4. CHARMING LITTLE STORIES; for little Boys and Girls, up¬ 

wards of fifty colored pictures. 

5. THE PEARL; or, Pretty Stories for Children, with six colored 

pictures. 

6 THE LITTLE COLONEL AND HIS SOLDIERS; with twelve 
colored pictures. 


Price Twenty-Five Cents each, in Handsome Binding. 


Also, the following series of Illustrated Amusing and Instructive 

Books, same price: 

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF LAND BIRDS; with numerous 
engravings. 

THE NATURAL niSTORY OF WATER BIRDS; with numerous 
engravings. 

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS; with numerous 
engravings. 

JUVENILE SPORTS AND OCCUPATIONS; with numerous 

engravings. 

COSTUMES OF AMERICA; with descriptive notices of the people, 
and numerous illustrations. 

COSTUMES OF EUROPE; with descriptive notices of the people, 
and numerous illustrations. 

STORIES FROM THE HISTORY OF ROME; with numerous 
illustrations. 

STORIES FROM THE HISTORY OF GREECE; with numerous 
illustrations. 

THE BOOK OF HEROES; great characters of different times: 
with numerous illustrations. 

PUBLISHED BY E. MENDENHALL, 

3 College Hall, Walnut St., Cincinnati. 

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NEW YORK: 

ITS 

UPPER TEN AND LOWER MILLION. 

BY GEORGE L1PPARD. 

UTHOR OF ‘‘WASHINGTON AND HIS GENERALS;” “THE NAZARENE;’ 

“PAUL ardenheim;” “jesus and the poor:” “adonai,” etc. 

Where shall we find an appropriate symbol of New 
York—a symbol that compresses New York, its terrible con¬ 
trasts of wealth and poverty, luxury and misery, into a focus, 
and presents in one vivid view a condensed picture of the 
Great City as it is? 

Go up Wall street on a sunshiny day. Around you heave 
the waves of New York life—rascality, speculation, wealth, 
beggary, misery, crime—and, at the head of Wall street, 
calmly contemplating the scene, sits Trinity Church, in her 
garment of drab stone, with her high head-dress, and a 
golden cross on her head. 

Trinity Church, calmly contemplating Wall street is the 
symbol of New York life. There is the Church, and high 
up in the air shines the cross of the Redeemer—this cer¬ 
tainly looks like religion, even if it is not religion—but be¬ 
neath that cross serenely shining in upper air, and glittering 
always in sunset, sunrise, noonday, moonlight, or in the 
lightning’s glare, rolls and heaves the awful current of New 
York life, mingling wealth that cannot be counted with mis¬ 
ery that has no lower depth; mingling, in a word, virtue and 
crime, velvet and rags, bankers and mechanics, stock specu¬ 
lators and watch stuffers, grave men of business and men 
who have neither business, work, nor bread—and this tide 
of life is never still. All day long it whirls and rolls there. 

The plot of this work hinges upon the division of an estate, 
which, in the course of twenty years, swells from two 
millions to one hundred millions of dollars. In this work 
the author has endeavored to picture faithfully some few 
of the Upper Ten Thousand and Lower Million of the great 
city of New York. 

It has been the object of the author to picture New York 
as it is, by picturing not only its present, but its floating 
population—grouping together characters from the Old 
World, and from all parts of the Union. How well we have 
succeeded in this work, the public best can judge. 

PUBLISHED BY E. MENDENHALL, 

Walnut St., Cincinnati. 

Price 50c • in paper, and T5c. in beautifully embossed Muslin. 
HSIT’sknt free by mail on receipt of the price. 

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POPULAR BIOGRAPHIES. 

LIVES OF HENRY VIII. AND HIS SIX WIVES, m 

By H. W. Herbert, 7 portraits, 441 pp. 12mo.,.$1 25 

LIFE OF HENRY CLAY, by Horace Greely and Epes Sar- 

geant, steel portrait, 428 pp. 12mo.,. 1 25 

LIFE AND SPEECHES OF HENRY CLAY, being the above, 
to which is added his most able and popular Speeches, 

steel portrait, 633 pp. 8vo.,...2 00 

WEBSTER AND HIS MASTER-PIECES, by B. F. Tefft, D. 

D., LL. D., steel portrait, 2 vols. 1032 pp. 12mo.,. 2 50 

LIFE OF GEO. WASHINGTON, by Jared Sparks, LL. D., 


LIFE OF WILLIAM H. SEWARD, with Selections from his 
Works, edited by Geo. E. Baker, steel portrait, 410 pp. 

12mo.,. 1 00 

LIFE OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, by W. H. Seward, por¬ 
trait, 404, pp. 12mo.,. 1 00 

LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON, by J. S. Jenkins, illustrated, 

397 pp. J2mo.,. 1 00 

LIFE OF WM. H. HARRISON, by H. Montgomery, por¬ 
trait, 465, pp. I2mo.,. 1 00 

LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, written by himself, with 

his Miscellaneous Essays, portrait, 375 pp. 12mo.,. 1 25 

LIFE OF GEN. LAFAYETTE, by P. C. Headley, portrait, 

377, pp. 12mo.,. 1 25 

LIFE OF DANIEL BOONE, and the Hunters of Kentucky, 

by W. II. Bogart, illustrated, 464 pp. 12mo.,. 1 25 

LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, Lockhart, portrait, 

392 pp. 12mo.,. 1 25 

LIFE OF THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, P. C. Headley, 

portrait, 383 pp..,. 1 25 

LIFE OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, P. C. Headley, por¬ 
trait, 448 pp.,. 1 25 

LIFE OF REV. A. JUDSON, by J. Clement, portrait, 336 

pp. 12mo.,. 1 00 

LIVES OF THE THREE MRS. JUDSONS, Mrs. Willson, 2 

portraits, 356 pp.,. 1 25 

LIVES OF MARY AND MARTHA WASHINGTON, Mother 
and Wife of George Washington, by Margaret C. Con- 

kling, portrait, 248 pp. 16mo. 75 

LIFE OF LADY JANE GREY, by D. W. Bartlett, portrait, 

298 pp. 12mo.,. 75 

LIFE OF JOAN OF ARC, by D. W. Bartlett, portrait, 221 

pp. 16mo.,. 75 

LIVES OF EMINENT METHODIST MINISTERS, contain¬ 
ing Biographical Sketches, Incidents, Anecdotes, Rec¬ 
ords of Travel, etc., by Rev. P. Douglass Gorrie, 

portraits, 408 pp. 12mo. 1 00 

LIFE OF PATRICK HENRY, by S. G. Arnold, 270 pp. J6mo.. 50 
LIFE OF JOSEPH ADDISON, by Lucy Aiken, 279 pp. 12mo. 50 

FOR SATE BY E. MENDENHALL, 

Walnut St., Cincinnati. 

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